pre-conception

[Hokey Pokey]

Did you, or did you not take any preconception vitamins/supplements?
Do you think they are a must do if you are TTC?

[cosmic]

Hi Kristy, I started taking folic acid as soon as I went off the pill.. which turned out to be about 5mths before I conceived. I think they recommend you take it at least a month before (?) and I think I was just taking multi-vitamins as part of my standard daily routine.

[Dancing Girl]

Hi guys, I've been trying since October and also started taking folic acid after I stopped taking the pill. I'm on the Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding tablets at the moment, but I'm told that Elevit is better. Does anyone know if Elevit is for pre conception or only when you have fallen PG?

[JATS]

I started taking blackmores pg and bf multis when I first started ttc, 20 months before I fell pg with my son :rolleyes:

[pippa]

Hi,

I am currently taking Blackmores Pregnancy multi-vit, plus extra folate, flaxseed oil tablets, fish oil tablets and a inner health tablet. I spoke to the natropath at my local health food shop and she recommended I take all of these.

I have friends that take elevit, I think they are the same as the blackmores but have extra folate in it and are more expensive and I think you only take one a day.

Good luck with TTC

[cosmic]

When I changed from Blackmores to Elevit, I went down the list on both bottles to see exactly what the difference was and basically Elevit has more of everything (inc. double the folic acid) than Blackmores. And it is $22 for a month, whereas I think the big bottle of Blackmores was about $46 (memory fails me) for just over 2mths (140 tabs @ 2 per day) so the Elevit really isn't much more expensive on a per day basis.

The only thing Blackmores has that Elevit doesn't have is Fish Oil, but like Pippa, I take that separately anyway.

I'm sure they are both fine for pre-conception! :)

[annsam]

I took blackmores preg & bf tablets last time. This time though I think I'll just take the folate and keep to my super good diet with lots of greens and coloured vege. Folate is essential and it is difficult to get the amount you need from diet but most other things can be gained from diet.

[xkwzit]

Folate is important pre-conception (for a couple of months BEFORE and AFTER conception). My OB suggested elevit for the entire pg (although I couldn't always find it).

Cheers and good on you for being so organised :D

[Hokey Pokey]

Last two pregnancies I took folate for first few months of pregnancy and got extremely constipated. Would like to avoid that this time. Do the blackmores and elevit cause that problem too :rolleyes:
Thanks for everyones feedback!

[pinkie]

Hi guys,

I find the topic of preconception care incredibly interesting and i'm surprised that i haven't heard much more about it on these forums. I did an assignment at uni a few years ago on diet and lifestyle choices pre pregnancy (preconception care) and the info i found was astounding. I can't believe any baby makes it out healthy after what i've read.

The best book ever is called "The natural way to better babies" by Francesca Naish and Janette Roberts. It's an indepth guide to having the perfect bub and although i'm having trouble sticking to everything it says, I still think it's a great base to start from.

I'm taking a multi vit, folate, Magnesium, zinc and some Vit C.

I must admit that i commited a major sin yesterday when I treated the lawn for grubs. Poisonous grub killer isn't the best stuff to play with when TTCing.

[LilShenanigans]

I think I did everything wrong in preconception - because she wasn't planned!!
Total shock, but the doctor I saw told me to take Folic Acid thing when it was all confirmed...

I used Elevit during pregnancy, which I'd probably use that again before, during and after pregnancy just because I felt it was better.

[ducks]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to bubhub, even though I have been an avid reader for about 8 months, this thread has caught my eye and I couldn't resist signing up. I was going to wait until I was actually pregnant, but what the hey!!

DH & I are hopful for a 2006 conception, even though we aren't actively TTC at the mo. I have been taking blackmore's folate for almost a year. I was given the Francesca Naish book for xmas off my lovely DH and have found it to be a fantastic resource for pre-conception care. I have almost finshed reading it cover to cover and I am sure DH has grown weary of me reading out quotes every 10 seconds:D

I have had some very serious health issues over the past 5 years and feel that if i can do everything i can to ensure a healthy baby, not only new born, but during toddler years and beyond, then I'm going to!! ;) Also, we think that my health issues and the stress of it all, not to mnetion the medical treatment I have had to endure will make it a bit difficult to conceive.

I have also decided that once i finish this batch of folate, I'll move onto Elevit as i have also done a comparison and on paper it seems to be the more comprehensive multi-vitamin.

Sorry this has been a long-winded reply, i just wanted to say how great the book is!!

ps how do i get a cute picture in the top left hand corner???????

[cosmic]

Welcome, Ducks! :D And good luck with your TTC efforts. You will find lots of support in the TTC threads, and I look forward to hearing your pregnancy news. ;)

[ducks]

Hi Cosmic,

thanks for your reply. its a bit exciting to see someone has read what I have written! I know that there are heaps of great threads that I will get advice from, if the need ever arises.

and as you can see, i have worked out how to get a picture in the top lefthand corner :D

I hope to hear from you again (and anyone else who wants to chat with the "new girl"!!)


D

[cosmic]

good work on the picture! :D

If you go to Introductions, you can post a Hello message and let everyone know you are here. We're a friendly bunch, really. ;)

[Hokey Pokey]

Welcome Ducks!! :D

[JellyBean06]

I highly recommend Elevit for TTC and during pg. It's about $22 a month and it gives you a real kick! My M/S was shocking for ages until I changed from Blackmores to Elevit. The increase in B6 stopped the M/S and I'm fine now with heaps of energy!

[hartz]

Hi all,

Following Ducks lead I jus signed up to BubHub as well because this thread is particularly interesting to me! My partner and I have decided to start TTC after our wedding in April so I thought it best to start taking care of my body now in the lead up to that. I went and bought a Folic Acid supplement forgetting about the multi-vitamins I already had and when I came home and checked they already have 500mcg of folic acid in them, so will taking them and the supplement of 500mcg be too much?? At the moment I alternate between taking the multi and the next day just take the folic acid so I can use them up.

My partner is a little bit older than me so we are hoping that it happens fairly quickly for us once we actively start trying, a honeymoon baby would be fantastic!!

I loook forward to trawling through the forum to learn more about what I should be doing now and I also look forward to sharing the journey with other people on here who are in the same boat as me!!

Cheers
Ali

[Hokey Pokey]

Welcome Ali!
Best of luck with the wedding, how are the plans going?

[JellyBean06]

Just be careful how much Vit A is in any multi vitamin tablet. Vit A has been linked to birth defects and like anything, can take a while for your body to rid itself of any nasties. Of course, Vit A through fruit and vegies are fine but it's one of the reason when you're pg to avoid pate, liver etc.

Always ask your Dr or your local hospital :)

[Shaezy]

Hi all,
I found out recently that a lot of folic acid tablets are actually combined with iron as well - I think they help each other work to their optimum. That's why I suffered from constipation when I first took folic acid tablets. I have since changed to the Blackmores P&B supplement as its far more gentle!!!
This may be why some people are also suffereing constiaption on "straight" folic acid.

[Peaceangels]

The best book ever is called "The natural way to better babies" by Francesca Naish and Janette Roberts.

This book has been getting a good rap on this thread and so it should!!!!!

After 4 years of TTC'ing,we went to Francesca's Naturopath centre after a few failed IVF attempts to try and TTC naturally.

That was the best choice ever! The basis of their approach is to get the egg and the sperm to be at optimum health (no reason why the dad's shouldn't be a part of it!!!!!)

It was a good 6mths-1yr of a changed eating plan, herbal tonics and vitamins (cutting out alcohol & caffeine) and I strongly believe that it had alot to do with my healthy pregnancies, birth and beautiful healthy babies.

In other words, I'm all for the vitamin taking and believe that Blackmore's pregnancy formula can give you a good range of the vitamins required.

[hartz]

Thanks for the welcome!

The wedding plans are coming along well, I wanted to elope but wasn't allowed so we are just having something very small mainly family and a few close friends who know us both. Luckily that also means the cost will be kept to a minimum and I will be able to put some more aside each pay for baby savings!!

Thanks for the info Jellybean, I had a look and I can't see any Vit A unless its in it as a form of something else but I think now I will just use the folic acid up and when the bottle is empty will buy the blackmores or elevit. i will make an appointment with my Dr in march and have a blood test to see if everything is as it should be!!

I read it is also handy to give up caffiene... I will struggle giving up the coke luckily I am not a fan of liver or pate so that will be easy!!

Ali

[JellyBean06]

Yeah caffiene in everything is bad (including tea which contains something called Tammin? But I know nothing about it :) ). Caffiene makes the little swimmers lazy! :D

[JATS]

Welcome and good luck Ali!

[hoping4another]

Hi,

I am currently taken Elevit and find it to be the best on the market. I was recommend it by my Doctor after my M/C as he said it was the best PG vitamin on the market.
It is said to take it one month before TTC but my doctor said it best to take 3 months before as this is how long it take for a egg to mature and be released.
My DP is also on a vitamin for his little swimmers because it is also important for them to take a vitamin. they say for them to start taken it 72 days before they TTC as this is how long it take for sperms to grow and mature and be released. I have done lots of reading up on the topic.

Hartz- It would be a idea to maybe go to the doctor's sooner than march for your check-up as if your rubella is low you will have to get another needle and the doctor recommend to wait 3 month before TTC as it is a live virus that they injected into you.
Best of luck with TTC.


Wendy

[Hokey Pokey]

Thanks for all the feedback ladies!
Think I am going to get the Elevit this week :)

[Mischief]

I was taking Folic Acid, Vitamin B and Vitamin C...for about 5 months before I got preggers....in the 4th month of pregnancy I took Elevit but Ive been really bad lately....must get some more!!!

[hartz]

Thanks for that info Wendy I hadn't thought anything of Rubella, will make my appointment this month then!! Glad I joined up now since I have learnt something already!

Pinkie and Peaceangels... I went to amazon looking for the book you mentioned and they had a ridiculous price on it, it was by F Naish and J Roberts but was titled Heathly Couples make Healthy Babies or something like that would it be the same one?? I am going to call into Borders on the way home from work and see if they have it.

[shereejoy]

Welcome to the newcomers. Hope your journey of TTC is short and sweet. GL.

I too take Elevit and have been told by my gyno it is the best on the market, and besides you only have to take one a day, not 2 as with the Blackmores brand. A friend of mine m/c as did I and she totally recommends elevit and thanks it for the success of her really healthy bubba. I too feel great on it, haven't had much m/s, which has been great. The constipation is a bit of a problem, but I find taking it as I got to bed, makes it alot easier on my bowls for some reason. I took it throughout the day previously and found this was the best time for an easier bowl movement in the morning. As Cosmic said they really are not that much dearer considering you take 2 of Blackmores which equates roughly to the same of the 1 with Elevit. Anyway I only want best for my baby, and find it is much easier to remember once a day rather then twice. GL with your decision.

Also, as did a few ladies on these threads, we took vitex. First month I took it I fell pregnant. I was also taking a natural vitamin E, Evening primrose oil and and what stage extra zinc. Making your partner take Vitamin E and Zinc will help there spermies rejuvinate quicker (if you can get them to take it), and I was taking a Sea Minerals that was recommended to me, to get my reproductive system working.

Hope some of this information is helpful.

Cheerio

[Hokey Pokey]

Thanks for all the info Sheree can I ask what is Vitex??

[shereejoy]

I think it is Vitex Agnus Castus with Chaste Tree, a good natural remedy for getting your reproductive system working, well that is what I used it for, its true meaning is to regulate your cycles. Some of the other ladies got the liquid form (and yuck if you ask me), I searched for a tablet and found it. There is a blackmores tablet but you have to take it 3 times a day. Anyway this worked for Cosmic/Pippa/Myself and now Scrapie.

I thought it was wonderful, like I said first month I took it, we fell and so did Scrapie. :D

[Hokey Pokey]

Wow never heard of it before. Will keep that in mind if it takes us a while ;)

[JATS]

Wow, have to look for those tablets!

[pinkie]

Ali (Hartz)

I've just grabbed my book to have a look. I bought it from Angus and Robertson at my local shopping centre and it cost $29.95. I don't think the name has changed (but who know's really). Have you tried to buy it online from stores like Dymocks or Angus and Robertson or QBD. They might have them.

[cosmic]

I also highly recommend Vitex - it's 'official' name is Vitex Agnus Castus as Sheree said - it is commonly known as Chaste Tree or Chaste Berry. I bought it in a bottle from the health food store and took 2ml every morning mixed with a little bit of juice - not that disgusting. :p And I was pregnant the first month of taking it!

It works on your pituitary gland to regulate the production of oestrogen and progesterone so it has loads of benefits including stabilising moodswings, helping with acne etc ... all those 'hormonal' things we suffer from because it balances everything out. Apparently it works much like Clomid which is a popular fertility drug, but it's natural. Once I passed the first trimester, I passed my (almost full) bottle onto a good friend who is NOT TTC but just had it recommended to her for regulating her cycle/moods etc.

I give it 5 stars! :D

[ducks]

Hi All,

I received the results from my blood tests last week (I really needed to know why I'm so irregular - 28-50+ day cycles!!:mad: oh and I'm 4 days late already) and of course they came back all normal.

I was a bit taken aback when I was given the all clear - not because I wanted or expected something to be wrong, but seeing as I am so irregular, I thought for sure I had a hormonal imbalance! But not only that, apparently my nutritional status is normal as well.

When we were speaking to my dr about my cycles he said that it could just be me - ie I should accept it as the norm. I guess that's all well and good, but in his words "when you TTC, your erratic cycles mean you will be shooting at a moving target" !!! but not only is that an issue, but the integrity of the ova is compromised with either a long pre-ovulatory phase, or a long post-ovulatory phase - making the risk of miscarrage or congenital yuckies more likely!! :(

I am having a pelvic U/S on friday to rule out any nasties on the inside (which again I am sure will be aok), but i think I might either get myself to a naturopath or get me some of that Chaste tree.

I would love to hear from any one else who may have in the past or is currently experiencing a similar thing.

x Deefa

[cosmic]

Hey Ducks, I never had whacky cycles but I would highly recommend using something like Fertility Friend to chart your cycle (www.fertilityfriend.com). I just think that when things are so erratic, doing something like that at least gives you some control over what is going on and you can work out yourself if it is a long pre- or post-ov phase that is the problem!

I personally got addicted to taking my temperature when TTC, and also checked CM and occasionally CP as well. I just loved being able to see exactly what was going on with my body.

PS. Good to hear everything is normal! :)

[ducks]

hey

cosmic - thanks for the advice. i have charted my temps and cm before but could never tell if i was even ovulating - the temps just seemed to be going up and down erratically. It never bothered me because i was charting for contraception.
In saying that, I have signed up to fertility friend but i'm still waiting for my AF to arrive
The doc also recommended using Maybe Baby, which we went out and bought straight away. I know there are some mixed results with this, but once i'm at cd1, i'll have all 3 guns blazing to see what the heck's going on.
My greatest fear is that i don't ovulate at all, which will mean more medical intervention and the thought of that makes me do this :( and this :eek: when all i want to do is this :D

i also forgot to say hello right back to o&b'smummy - I'm sorry. It was you who made me start being a doer not a reader in the first place

bye for now
D

[hartz]

Pinkie, I went to Borders and they had two of the titles that follow the way to better babies one and yes that is what it is called, the healthy couples one must be its american title or something?? Will go to another bookstore on the weekend and see if it is there as I would really prefer to have them in the right order!!

[Hokey Pokey]

Hey D!
I got a maybe Baby today too!! :D

[ducks]

Hi O&B'smummy

excellent! Did you have problems finding one? I went to three different chemists before i could get my hands on one. I like it - its very novel. I even wake DH up to have a look as well :)
AF arrived today (and in a timely fashion as well :eek: ) so from tomorrow morning it is the MB and fertility friend.
My bedside will look a bit like a science lab. Hm, maybe i should wear a lab coat..............

Can't a chick just wake up and get out of bed anymore!


I'm also thinking of ditching the straight folate and going for the multi-v, just for the "elevit" ha ha ha :rolleyes:

Deefa

[Hokey Pokey]

Hi Ducks
Nope had no prob getting it but I did get the last one from the chemist. They said they are pretty popular!
I went and got those Elevit vitamins yesterday too, started those this morning. Also got a thermometer to do my temps and charting. I agree with the science lab look lol mine is just the same! :p
Think my AF is going so should be able to get to business next week hehe ;)

[SixtiesChild]

Hi girls,
I Just stumbled across this thread and it seems that people are becoming more aware of pre-conception care.
Six months prior to ttc last year I was taking a variety of diferent vitamins & minerals as well as exercising a little.
I tried chaste berry but it was too dramatically changing on my cycle which was only a little out of sync, so I contacted a billings nurse and that was when I learned how to accurately chart my slightly irregular cycle.
Here is the Billings website: www.woomb.org

I got a lot of the vitamin info from Ruth Sharkey's book: guide to natural conception. Her website: www.sharkeys.com.au
I also purchased a copy of The natural way to better babies by Francesca Naish and also found this information worth reading.
This has really paid off because I now have a little girl growing in my belly
(#2),due in March. :)
I think she's healthy and strong, as everything seems well.
Also for the guys, apparently something as simple as daily doses of vitamin c as well a zinc can make a world of difference when ttc.;)